Everything You Wanted to Know About UCLA
With umpteen Nobel Prizes awarded to UCLA alumni and faculty in just the past decade, you might think of it as an intellectual powerhouse. Or maybe, with its list of A-list alumni in the arts, film, and sports, you’d see it as a breeding ground for stars. Spoiler: It’s both of those things—and so much more. UCLA is where world-class academics meet a powerhouse athletics program and a campus life that’s anything but dull. It’s the perfect place to dive deep into your studies and then step out for a little fun in the California sun.
What Makes UCLA’s Campus Stunning?
The university’s location is seriously hard to beat: nestled between the iconic neighborhoods of Beverly Hills and Bel Air, and just a short drive to the beach, Hollywood, and downtown L.A. It’s the kind of spot where you can study and then catch a sunset at the beach—no big deal. The 419-acre campus is gorgeous, with a blend of Romanesque/Italian Renaissance architecture and lush gardens, including botanical, Japanese, and sculpture gardens. Students love hanging out on campus, and it’s easy to see why. The campus is split into North (for the liberal arts) and South (where the math and science nerds rule), making it easy to find your home.
What Can Freshmen Expect at UCLA?
Freshmen aren’t just thrown into the chaos—they get a three-day summer orientation packed with workshops, counseling, and an intro to everything UCLA. And once the school year starts, they can dive into fun interdisciplinary clusters of courses or small seminars like Student Activism from the Sixties to Present. As for graduation requirements, you’ll need to flex your brainpower with English composition, quantitative reasoning, a lab science, and a language requirement. Plus, all students must take a course on diversity (because, yes, UCLA believes in mixing it up). And to keep things fresh, some departments now require capstone projects that challenge you to pull everything you’ve learned into one big, mind-blowing project.
What Exciting Programs Does UCLA Offer?
UCLA is stacked with strong programs, especially in STEM, where the Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science leads the charge. Biology, chemistry, and math are also top-tier. But it’s not just about tech and science here—UCLA is a powerhouse in the arts too. The School of Theater, Film, and Television is world-renowned, and students even get to study in Verona, Italy, through the Theater Overseas program. The Alpert School of Music has jazz legends like Herbie Hancock on its faculty, while dance and design are standout programs in the School of the Arts and Architecture. Social sciences like sociology, economics, and psychology are also huge draws.
How Competitive is the Application Process at UCLA?
If you want to go to UCLA, you’ll need to be prepared for an intense, competitive environment—after all, they get more than 110,000 applications each year! And while half of undergrad classes have fewer than 20 students, be ready for the large lecture halls in your early years. Don’t worry though—UCLA’s famous professors are still pretty accessible. There are two big research centers here (one for arts and humanities, the other for sciences), and UCLA regularly ranks in the top 10 for federal research funding. So if you’ve got research goals, you’re in the right place.
What is Social Life Like at UCLA? How Diverse is UCLA?
UCLA students are seriously motivated, but they’re also big on community and supporting each other. The school’s political vibe is pretty liberal, and it’s one of the few universities with a gay fraternity and a lesbian sorority. Social justice is a big deal here. About 77% of students are from California, and 13% are international. The diversity is real, with Asian Americans making up 28%, Hispanics 22%, African Americans 3%, and multiracial students 6%.
How Challenging Is UCLA’s Housing Situation Exactly?
On the campus side of things, UCLA is known for having amazing dorms and housing. However, freshmen can feel like sardines crammed into a box. Many freshmen are trapped in triples that, under normal circumstances, would barely accommodate a single person. Students in bunk beds have been known to put padding on their ceiling not to bump their heads. Others abandon their room and end up sleeping on a couch in a suite. While UCLA’s housing situation is good overall, some freshmen endure some fairly terrible housing experiences. Over half of undergraduates live on campus, including almost all freshmen, who are guaranteed three years of university housing. The dining options are legendary—there are 15 dining halls and snack bars on campus, and students rave about the food. If you’ve got a special interest, you can join a residential learning community where you’ll live with classmates who share your passion.
What is UCLA’s Greek Life Like?
With almost 60 fraternities and sororities, Greek life is alive and well at UCLA, but it doesn’t dominate campus social life. If that’s not your scene, no worries—there are endless ways to get involved. UCLA hosts regular concerts, guest speakers, and theater productions, plus Spring Sing, a campus talent show judged by celebrities. You can also volunteer on Volunteer Day, which attracts over 8,000 students every year.
What’s Life Like in LA for UCLA Students?
And let’s not forget Los Angeles! Whether you’re hitting up Westwood (just a hop, skip, and jump from campus) or catching a live show in Hollywood, there’s always something going on. With the beach only five miles away and the mountains just a short drive, you’ll never run out of things to do. Sure, public transport can be a pain, but a bike or a ride-share solves that problem.
What Are UCLA’s Sports Teams Like?
When it comes to sports, UCLA is a total powerhouse. With 118 NCAA Division I team national championships and more than 260 Olympic medals, it’s clear that Bruins are serious about their athletics. The men’s football and basketball teams draw huge crowds, but don’t forget about that epic crosstown rivalry with USC. Beating USC is the highlight of the year, and the week leading up to the big football game is a full-on celebration. About a third of students compete in club or intramural sports, so there’s no shortage of ways to get your game on.
At the end of the day, UCLA is where academic excellence, vibrant campus life, and endless opportunities all collide. You can challenge yourself with tough coursework, hang with your friends at the beach, and still make time for a little beach volleyball. It’s a big school, but with a close-knit feel and a massive amount of Bruin pride.
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Does UCLA Require the Common Application?
UCLA hopefuls do not complete the Common Application as UCLA does not use it. Instead, students use one application—the Apply UC App— for all nine of the University of California schools.
What are UCLA’s Essay Questions?
You will have 8 Personal Insight Questions to choose from. You must respond to only 4 of the 8 questions. Each response is limited to a maximum of 350 words.
Which questions you choose to answer is entirely up to you. However, you should select questions that are most relevant to your experience and that best reflect your individual circumstances.
Personal Insight Questions:
1. Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.
2. Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.
3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
4. Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
5. Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?
6. Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.
7. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
8. Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?
What Are the Deadlines to Apply to the University of California Schools?
